Highlighting the importance of port connectivity, Union Road Transport Ministry has developed a four-lane National Highway (NH) in Kerala at a cost of Rs 571 crore.

The highway will connect (International Container Transhipment Terminal) ICTT Vallarpadam with Kalamassery.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari stated that the coastal and port connectivity infrastructure play a pivotal role in a nation's economic growth.

In a series of tweets, the minister said that the project involved the construction of a port connectivity highway, stretching 8.721 km through the backwaters of the Arabian Sea at Cochin, on reclaimed land.

He added that this highway links the North-South Corridor for freight movement to Cochin Port, thereby facilitating the transportation of goods.

Furthermore, this highway enhances the mobility of eight seashore villages and has significantly contributed to the socio-economic development of the region, he said.

Gadkari further said, "Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi our unwavering commitment is to deliver time-bound, cost-effective, high-quality, and sustainable road infrastructure that serves the needs of our citizens."

"In Nagaland we are undertaking a significant infrastructure development project: the construction of a 14.71-kilometer-long four-lane highway from Dimapur to Kohima," he added.

The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 339.55 crore.

Stating that the primary objective of this project is to improve the connectivity between the capital city and other major commercial centers in the state, Gadkari also said that this would enable faster movement of people and goods for growth and prosperity.

"Our aim under the leadership of the Prime Minister is to deliver a road infrastructure that is both cost-effective and sustainable while adhering to strict timelines and uncompromising standards of quality," he added.